About Udaipur

Udaipur, the erstwhile capital of the ancient Mewar Kingdom of Rajputana Agency and now a municipal corporation and the administrative capital of the Udaipur District is one of the principal cities of the state of Rajasthan. Placed amidst the elevated Aravalli Mountain Ranges, this ‘city romantic’ is the second most sought after tourist destination of Rajasthan after Jaipur. Renowned worldwide for its plethora of picturesque lakes creating a chimerical appeal, Udaipur is justly entitled as ‘the city of lakes’. Also nicknamed as the ‘Venice of the East’, Udaipur, the civic watermarked with incredible glamour and alluring legacy is a snare of all prosaic revelry in its true sense. This ‘Kashmir of Rajasthan’ placed about 405 km from the state capital Jaipur is thronged by the tourists; both domestic and foreigners all round the year.

Celebrated for its interconnected dazzling lakes, the floating Lake Palace, imposing forts, seraphic temples, mesmerizing palaces, opulent museums, pleasing lush gardens, ecological riches, classic monuments, and civilization immersed with its heroic past, and the most exuberant traditional festivals ornament the facet of Udaipur with their rich cultural and historical endowment. The spectrum that this patrimony of bygone era creates through its merger with the modern mien renders Udaipur a fairy tale like demeanor. Udaipur, the most romantic and the most quixotic city of Rajasthan has also acted as the backdrop to a James Bond film ‘Octopussy’. Moreover, Udaipur is also a favorite marriage venue and a number of dignitaries of the country such as politicians, business families, and film stars and so on organize their wedding ceremonies as well as other parties at Udaipur.

The best period to pay a visit to Udaipur is September to April. In the month of March or April the Mewar Festival of Udaipur is held and the Shilpgram Crafts Fair is organized in November or December every year.

History Of Udaipur

Udaipur, the ultimate capital of the ancient Mewar Kingdom was founded by Maharana Udai Singh II in the year 1559. Maharana Udai Singh II, who also fathered the great Maharana Pratap, belonged to the valorous Rajput clan named Sisodia. Sisodia is believed to be the oldest ruling family and the descendants of the Sun God. As per the legend goes, Maharana Udai Singh II was enjoying the sport of hunting at the foothills of the Aravalli Mountain Ranges. At that time he came across a hermit who blessed the Maharana and instructed him to build a palace at the very venue. He also predicted that this palace will be well protected from enemy invasions and aid him in the time of adversity. Maharana Udai Singh II following the command of the hermit laid the foundation stone of Udaipur in the year 1557 and constructed a royal residence there.

In the year 1568 when the mighty Mughal Emperor Akbar captured the Chittorgarh (the fort of Chittor), Maharana Udai Singh II found refuge to the palace built at the foothills of Aravalli. He shifted the capital of Mewar Kingdom from Chittor to that place and christened it as ‘Udaipur’ after his own name. The term ‘Udaipur’ can be explained as the city (Pur) of Maharana Udai Singh (Udai). With the decline of Mughal Empire, the Sisodia Kings recaptured most of Mewar region except for Chittor and reasserted their independence. Udaipur retained the status as the capital of the Mewar State and remained unmolested from Mughals due to its mountainous geographical features. Some of the Sisodia rulers who reined Udaipur include Maharana Udai Singh II, Pratap Singh I, Amar Singh II, Jai Singh, Sangram Singh II, Ari Singh II, Swaroop Singh, Sajjan Singh, Fateh Singh and the last ruler being the Maharana Bhagwat Singh.

In the year 1818 Mewar was made a Princely State under British East India Co. and Udaipur, the administrative headquarters of the Mewar State. After the independence of India in 1947, the Maharana of Udaipur signed the Instrument of Accession and facilitated the process of national integration. The princely state of Mewar was then integrated into the state of Rajasthan.